Man appears in court accused of threatening to kill West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper

A man accused of making threats to kill West Lancashire MP, Rosie Cooper, has appeared in court.

Rakeem Malik is also accused of sending threatening letters to the then prime minister Theresa May and Labour MP Jess Phillips.

He opted not to indicate pleas to four counts of making threats to kill and two charges brought under the Malicious Communications Act during a five-minute hearing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Monday.

The court heard the 53-year-old, who appeared via videolink to Birmingham's Winson Green jail, had been advised by his solicitor not to enter any pleas.

The defendant, who spoke during the hearing to confirm his name and that he could hear and see the proceedings, faces two counts relating to letters allegedly sent to Mrs May "which conveyed a threat for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety" in September 2018.

Magistrates ordered Malik to appear for a further videolink hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on February 3